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Harmony for our oasis

'My Karachi-An Oasis of Harmony' is the name of a very prestigious annual event organized by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry every summer. This year it would be held between June 5-7 at the Karachi Expo Center. The fourth MKC was held during my tenure, just two weeks after the May 12 mayhem in Karachi in 2007. Despite the trauma, over 400,000 Karachi citizens flocked to the Expo and made it a super success. Foreign participation was also very encouraging, especially from Sri Lanka. This year too, the KCCI has been given thumbs up from everywhere for making this event a resounding success. Pakistan is going through tough economic times. This is the time to project and promote Pakistani business and services excellence. Moreover, foreign exhibitors are also encouraged by such events to come and present their wares. The government is also keen to ensure that Pakistani entrepreneurs get all facilities and incentives to market their products. It is also imperative that with wallet shrinking, the hard-up but discerning consumer is provided quality goods at affordable prices. In order to facilitate manufacturers and service providers and encourage export-based entrepreneurs. In order to project the soft side of Pakistani trade and industry, it is very sincerely proposed to Syed Mohibullah Shah, Chief Executive of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, to provide the infrastructure at Karachi Expo Center on a complimentary basis to KCCI so that the Chamber can draw more SMEs, especially women entrepreneurs, to promote their products at an attractive rate. TDAP is spending millions on foreign exhibition participation and benefits go to a limited number of participants. This is an important tool that TDAP utilizes. TDAP must forego its rentals and enable KCCI to organize the event without this added cost. As it is, whatever surplus KCCI manages to save is donated in entirety to a worthwhile cause, such as the Police Hospital. I would also request OICCI, American Business Council and various other bilateral forums and trade associations to participate in this remarkable venture. I am confident that the present President KCCI, Anjum Nisar, would steer his team with typical flair to make MKC 2009 an event to remember during his tenure. -MAJYD AZIZ, Ex-President, KCCI, Karachi, via e-mail, April 27.